The initial lists of donations made since the Wichita mayoral field was set confirm the dissatisfaction that many in the business community reportedly feel about Mayor Carlos Mayans’ four-year record. Between Jan. 1 and Feb. 15, challenger Carl Brewer (in photo) collected $33,140 in contributions (excluding $40,000 of his own money), compared with Mayans’ $8,750. Brewer had 98 donors; Mayans had 26 in the same period. Both had high-profile business names, but Brewer got the lion’s share of heavyweights.
Of course, campaign contributions can add up differently than votes. All voters should make their voice heard in Tuesday’s primary, which also will narrow the April 3 general election ballot choices in two Wichita school board races and three Wichita City Council districts.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
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18 Comments
The WE just cannot seem to make up its mind on how they feel about candidates and the contributions they except.
You seem to think it is a good thing but on the other hand you have chastised those that take money from some folks and vote a different way.
So are you saying that if you take money you should vote the way those donating to your campaign say you should?
Will Brewer do just what the business people donating to his campaign tell him to do? Will he ignore the little people that do not have money to donate? I am tire of all of these businesses telling our elected officials how to vote!!!!
Terrible situation for Wichita — the leading candidates are already part of the problem and none of the others indicates they would be an improvement. I can’t see anything good coming from this election.
The problem I see here is the conflict-of-interest when these contributors stand to receive contracts from city ventures. This sort of conflict becomes engrained when the city is involved with things like WaterWalk.
Reminds me of Chicago …
Guess I hadn’t been paying enough attention to detail in this election, especially since I don’t live in the City of Wichita and can’t vote in it anyway. Nevertheless, I pretty much felt that the dissatisfaction with Mayans was enough to swing it for Brewer–until yesterday. Yesterday, I found out that Mr. Brewer’s campaign manager/treasurer is none other than Bob “Where’s my Next Public Teat Gig?” Knight!!! So, folks, what’re gonna’ do now???
I voted for Mr Brewer. But I wish we had a Person running for Mayor that would support the Fire Dept. And Police Dept.
rm — I only learned that tidbit of info about Knight being co-chair for Brewer from this morning’s newspaper. Yesterday I had about decided to vote for Brewer. Maybe (although I doubt it) there was something he couldn’t do as a council member and could as mayor. But I will not vote for someone associated with Knight!
Now I’m wondering if there is a candidate with consensus support from all of us who are terribly tired of politics as usual. If we all split our votes it will still get Mayans and Brewer on the ticket.
Didn’t you guys know Knight was backing Brewer? This has been common knowledge all along. Thing is, after Tuesday the choice will be mayans and Brwer. The other candidates (who here can name them?) have no money and no way to get theor message out.
“sigh”
Who can “fix” Wichita with all its problems. That is the question of guidance. What has Mayan’s accomplished and did Brewer on the city council help or obstruct him.
Both failed the community in large ways. WaterWalk red tape. Wranglers leaving a “dead” Lawrence-Dumont behind. The city gov must update that facility. Museums in trouble or one’s still to be built.
No matter, the city and county officials are weak in Topeka today. They don’t have ideas for “destination facility” Star Bond use or legislators weighing in on something we need in the community.
I don’t care about who donates to politicians, it will be weird day when I’m doing that. If its only a dollar, to put my faith monetarily in that office.
I need whoever is Mayor to perform, making this community better. We have some obvious things to fix, that are real slow being fixed.
I don’t look forward to Bob Knights influence at all. It’s too bad Brewer couldn’t campaign for himself.
That weird commercial he has, the lady voice over seems like a Bob Knight idea.
It’s like Brewer is playing a role defined by others, than being himself.
Vote Ben Huie for MayorIn 2011
Look at that, see.It doesn’t cost you a dime and already you have a supporter.
Except for maybe running TV ads running for local office shouldn’t cost large amounts of cash. Flyers, signs ect don’t cost that much money. I also find it suspect that companies that get contracts also give money to the very incumbents who give them out, while not illegal it does on the surface seem shady.
Ben would make a great Mayor. How about a “Draft Ben” movement!!!
wiswman, rm – what did I do to get you guys mad at me?
;^)
If I was still living there I would vote for Mayans. He is doing an adequate job although not a great job. Or I might vote for the “Wise Guy” Polous if he was running again this time. He would get get rid of all the worn out old buildings in town real fast and the fire dept would get lots of free practice!
Ben Huie,
It’s like Plato says in the Republic: the incentive that the best men have for accepting political responsibility is that if they don’t, they’re fated to be ruled by the worst.
If Ben Huie runs, he can count on CF’s vote. Although in the interest of getting Ben Huie elected, CF will keep his endorsement on the down-low.
My phone rang mid morning and when I answered the male RECORDED voice identified himself as Carl Brewer and was reminding me tomorrow was election… I HUNG UP! Those calls bother me as badly as the telmarketer calls did before we could register on the do not call list.
I think I’m too cantankerous to vote in this election but I’ve never missed one before so probably won’t start now.
I’m so disappointed in the lack of credible candidates! Be, can we write you in?
For the record, Bob Knight is neither Brewer’s campaign manager nor treasurer.
As to the donations, the vast majority of money that is donated to any of the candidates comes from people who have no business connection to the city. Sure Cornejo & Sons get contracts from the city, but anyone who is familiar with the process knows that the work is competitively bid. Council members do not select who gets awarded a contract. Council members do approve contracts. It is an arm’s length transaction.
The race will be between Mayans and Brewer. The only other candidate who is reasonable is Darrell Leffew. The rest of them couldn’t lead themselves out of monkey exhibit at the zoo.
Ralph is correct, the race will be between Mayans and Brewer. And Brewer will win handily in the runoff.